Elio. Car With A Hernia.

[Coss]

Looking closer at their entire accessory list they are going to have to change a number of them to work with the P5 body style.
Remember the exhaust tips? Those would look stuck on with that exhaust cover.

The front air dam would have to be changed to work with the grill change

 

[Rickb]

I'm thinking about making a matching bulge on the other side, only it blows bubbles instead of exhaust.

PS: It's been my experience that women tend to give cars male names.

The matching bulge could have a hinged cover that flips down to reveal an added storage compartment.

 

[Elio Amazed]

I think the bulge was the best solution.
I'm good with it.

 

[Gizmo]

A storage compartment on the door side ...hmmm. Could it store a rifle, an umbrella, oh oh....I know a jack stand for changing tires!!! But...wait where is the spare?

 

[floydv]

I would how they have it planned to work with the side skirts?
Remember these items?
View attachment 8189

They are in the EM Accessories list, but they were in there before the P5 was released.
So they either have to take them off the list or come up with something that will work and not look really out of place.

Maybe EM can integrate the exhaust into a side skirt and put a mirror skirt on the other side for more balance? The skirts wouldn't be an option anymore, but at least it would make the exhaust look less like an afterthought.

 

[Muzhik]

A storage compartment on the door side ...hmmm. Could it store a rifle, an umbrella, oh oh....I know a jack stand for changing tires!!! But...wait where is the spare?

THAT's where the spare will be stored! All rolled up and ready to be inflated, like an air mattress at the pool.

 

[bowers baldwin]

I dont' much like the bulge, either, but it's worth it to have decent ground clearance.

Nice exhaust, or are you just happy to see me??

I think it's more of a goiter than a hernia.

 

[Rickb]

A storage compartment on the door side ...hmmm. Could it store a rifle, an umbrella, oh oh....I know a jack stand for changing tires!!! But...wait where is the spare?

.....................or some white gloves and a stash of Fix-a-flat or Slime.

 

[McBrew]

.....................or some white gloves and a stash of Fix-a-flat or Slime.

My Fiat has a 12v pump with slime under the driver's seat. There is room for a spare under the rear of the car (like on many trucks). I was imagining a round, weatherproof suitcase that I could load up underneath for when I need more storage in the Fiat. The trunk may be larger than the Elio trunk, but not by much -- especially with the Beats Audio subwoofer built in and convertible top mechanism above.

 

[Elio Amazed]

I'm pretty sure it would be possible to completely eliminate the bulge.
The right side has no door and has rather deep interior panels (shifter & armrest).
Instead of taking the flat steel bottom all the way over to the right bottom corner...
build and leave a channel for the exhaust and exit it through the side of the body.
The pipe would be exposed (within the channel) to the air.
This would require modifying the floor framing.

However, there's no telling what chain of events (additional changes) this complication would cause.
Even if it didn't cause additional changes to be made, it would probably still add mfg cost to this model.
I believe adding that channel would require reinforcement of that area and extra labor and material in mfg.
I opt for "supporting" the bulge in this reiteration of the Elio because it's the quick, dirty and fast solution.
The complaints all seem to be about aesthetics and not funtion. I personally think it looks cool.
If it stands up to testing, I think it's acually an elegant solution. For now.
Maybe it'll have an inexpensive heat shield inside.

I just don't want my bulge to change color, warp, melt, crack or sag. Who would?

Let's get this thing to market for $6800 and let them awe us with cosmetic improvements on the next generation.